Best Places to Live and Launch 2008: No. 8, Charlotte, N.C.
From CHARLOTTE,NC Charlotte Knights is a Baseball team if some of you have forgotten. so baseball does live in charlotte along with the greatest football team PANTHERS! and soon to be in the playoffs Bobcats. I love Charlotte. Lived here all my life. I agree with the news. It will scare the hell out of you; but thats news in gerneral. It does have a high crime rate. however you do feel safe walking the streets. No one really bothers you. The crimes are mainly stolen cars, and drug related incidents. I have lived in Charlotte pretty much my whole life, and only want to leave to explore, but only to know that I do have a home in Charlotte, that i enjoy verymuch. 485 is probably the most convient success for our city. Great place to raise a family. Good Schooling depending on the school you attend for elementry, middle and high schools. UNCC is also a great University, I highly recomend it unless you would like to get away for 4 years. BEST CITY IN THE WORLD!
From B.N. Hermitage, PA Well for some like myself crime gives me a job, and you'll have that anywhere you go.
From James, Charlotte, NC Charlotte, NC is honestly whatever you make it… I've been living in Charlotte for going on 2 years now. I've moved to Charlotte from Charleston, SC to attend college. Because it is the 19th most populated city in the country, I guess many people would have high expectations for the city itself. However, Charlotte is not the stero-typical city. I mean its no New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago. I mean those cities have populations well over 2 million people.
Charlotte is a well- blend of a suburban environment that is in transition to becoming a urban scene. There is plenty to do in Uptown Charlotte. Bars, clubs, lounges, restaurants, pubs, art galleries, sporting events, and much more live entertainment. Many young professionals reside here as well.
Charlotte, of course as stated by many other bloggers, has an excellent economy. Most people are bankers or financial personnel, and its because Charlotte is the 2nd largest Financial Hub in the country, even after the fall of Wachovia.
Many people relocate to Charlotte thinking they will just be able to live happily ever after without a degree, experience in a respective field, or formal training. Yet, that is just not possible. We live in a global economy and education + experience is a more than a plus….its a MUST!Charlotte offers many internships/co-ops to students who have above average and superb GPAs.
The Panthers are a HUGE part of the Charlotte area.. GO PANTHERS!!! and thats common in any major city that has a major league team.
And Southern Hospitality is non-existent in the south PERIOD! I've lived in the south my whole life and the old south is not the new south….This generation of southerners aren't as hospitable as their parents/grandparents were years ago.
From scottsdale, az I see you've never been to Scottsdale, AZ..LOL
From Sherry, Charlotte NC Me and hubby moved from NJ to Charlotte 4 yrs ago. We love it and don't plan on going back North. Yes, it has high crime, but so does every other big city. However, here they do something about crime; they go after the person, unlike up North where the cops are part of the problem.
From f patrick, Raleigh, NC I've lived in seven different cities over the past twenty years (from San Diego to Boston) and if you plan on being in NC, or SC, Charlotte is probably one of the best places to be. Of course it has it's pros and cons like any other city but if you research the neighborhood you move into and have a strong job offer prior to moving (or your own business) you should be more than happy in Charlotte. If you are a small-town type who is going to focus on the negative when it comes to crime well of course it'll have more crime than a much smaller population but per capita it isn't as high as the media makes it out to be. Austin, Tx is a great place too, in comparison, and without a state tax think of the money you can put into savings or use toward a nice vacation each year. The taxes in NC are bad anywhere you live (compared to other states) so that's a given whether it be Charlotte, Greensboro, Asheville or the Raleigh/Durham area. If you have your own business there is no corporate tax in Texas which is another plus. Whether it be federal or the local/state level of the gov't, you see how they abuse the funds paid by taxpayers so why pay out more money for them to take advantage of?
From Msevey All I am going to say is – Look at the crime rate. It is not a safe place to live and I wouldn't dream of relocating my family to Charlotte, NC.
From Joe, Gastonia NC Now that Wachovia is no more and Bank of America is in dire straits; I expect Charlotte to go from a "Growth City" to a "Retired City". In other words Charlotte will become another Ronoake VA, Asheville NC, or Columbia SC, etc.
From rob crysell charlotte nc My family and I moved to Charlotte a few months ago and I must say I am very unimpressed. It is not a big city or a small town. Traffic is typical of an overly crowded region. Crime is really bad and the local news will scare the hell out of you. If you are not a Panthers football fan dont plan on watching sports, that is the only thing anyone talks about and its a team of overpaid thugs like steve smith and deangelo williams. I've lived in downtown DC and San Francisco for many years and those are cities. This is just a continuous expanse of retail and banks. There is absolutely No southern hospitality here and the job market is very very bad right now. I would strongly reconsider any move to this area if you can. It just any place you would want to call home.
From Doug – Charlote, NC THE most underrated party town. If you are age 30 or under, Uptown Charlotte is Disney World.
If you are over 40, head for the suburbs.
From Jon, Charlotte, NC Charlotte is a great place to live. Plenty of great restaurants and bars. I've lived here for 9 years and will never move. Go Panthers!
From Brian, Nashville, TN You have got to be kidding. I moved from Charlotte 11 years ago and haven't looked back. It is one of the most one dimensional, culturally challenged and over-hyped plastic communities I ever lived.
From Lee. Statesville NC Area is great. I have been here most of my life. However, I went to a b-ball game with my son's (2) I had a drink and 2 hot dogs. $14.00 dollars. To Bob Johnson You will never get another dime from me. It's a recession and he talks about what poor people need to do on C-span. It must not be to come see the Bocats play. rediculous.
From Dan, Charlotte, NC Even with the turmoil in the banking industry Charlotte is a great place to work and play. I moved here 12 years ago from upstate NY and planned to stay only long enough to finish school – and here I am. I am one of the many "financial professionals" in Charlotte yet also started a small business which has grown exponentially over the last 18 months, so much so that I can now leave my corporate gig and take on the business full time. As an avid hiking, kayaking and mountain biking enthusiast I have everything I need within a 40 minute drive with Crowder's Mountain, the US National Whitewater Center and numerous trails and greenway's providing numerous opportunities to satisfy my adventurous side. Concentration on public transportation is a major new development that is gaining ground with the new light rail and commuter trains open and a trolley service planned for the immediate future. The best part about Charlotte, though, is real estate. Backed by stats from the Case-Schiller index, Charlotte continues to be one of the most recession-proof cities in the country in terms of real estate. I, for one, have found real estate investments to be an extremely lucrative source for supplemental income – and you can too. A great resource to consider for real estate in the Charlotte market is http://www.CharlotteUrbanLife.com, which offers updates and information on new construction, single family suburban and urban condo environments, along with relocation advice and contact info. If you are looking to move into a diverse and growing population, you owe it to yourself to check out Charlotte.
From CJ charlotte,NC I lived in Charlotte for 2 years and both areas i've lived in has had a numerous accounts of violent crimes. Drive by shooting, armed robbery, my place has been broken into before, don't leave your house unattended over the holidays.
From Ron, Charlotte, NC We have lived in Charlotte for 6 years. It's a wonderful mid-sized. growing city. The banking business (Charlotte is second only to NY as a financial center in the US) not only provides many of the jobs here but has also made a tremendous commitment to the arts. If you are coming from NY, NJ, CT, Chicago or especially CA you will find housing to be between 1/5th-1/2 of the cost in those other parts of the country. The outdoor activities are wonderful, the mountains are 2 hours west and the beaches are 3 hours east. Charlotte also has a wonderful, modern airpost so you can get anywhere. We plan to retire here over the next several years. If there is one possible pending drawback it is the current condition of the banking business.
From nick ca im think bout moving to charlotte so any comments about it would greatly be welcomed im from tennesssee but im in california i need to get out of this state. im only 22 btw nick_94520@yah00.com is my email hit me up
From washington dc I lived in Charlotte for 7 years. It's a beautiful city. But, if you are not working for the banking industry, you will probbally have a hard time surviving, unless you work 2 jobs. I hate to admit this, but I agree with many of the comments pertaining to lack of diversity in the job market, and you seem to run into the same type of person…..over and over again. If you are the type of personality that likes to chill and hang out, it might hold some appeal. Although, the ambitious types might find Charlotte stale and unsatisfying.
From Hector Falu Muhammad, Louisville, Kentucky Charlotte, along with the state of North Carolina has one of the best recession proof economies that I have ever visited. One of the only places that I have had to turn down business due to such a great demand.
From Charlotte NC Charlotte is a grat place to live and grow. I you are interested in Charlotte real estate, go to http://www.trenamiller.com
From Washington DC Matt
Everyone has an opinion and a lot of people are just generally negative. Dont base your decision on what others say. You will probably find a lot of people out there who find something wrong with Austin as well. Good luck!
From Matt, Chicago, IL Do all of you people that posted here live in the same city (Charlotte)? I have never seen so many mixed reviews of a city before in my life. Was thinking about leaving Chicago for either Charlotte or Austin, TX. I think I have made up my mind…..Austin it is.
From Sean-Charlotte, NC Charlotte is a growing, exciting city. We moved here 4 years ago for the cost of living, weather, and quality of life. We found all three. We have recently started a family, and are so happy that we are doing this here. Uptown Charlotte a few years ago was pretty sad, but very recently this has changed. You can find the Bobcats, the Panthers, AAA Ice Hockey, and soon AAA Baseball. It also has great restaurants, good bar scene, and lots of live music. Lastly, the Epicentre, which houses bars, restaurants, a movie theatre, bowling, shopping, music, coffee shops, etc is now open. It is a great addition to the area. This is all coming from a guy from Jersey, with a wife from Brooklyn.
From BILL CHICAGO,ILL The best thing about Charlotte to me is the highway system….to get out!
From Julianne of NC Until Wachovia "tanked" Charlotte had avoided the housing downturn. Now we're part of the national recession.
From James Klich, Charlotte N.C. I have lived here since 1996. I have a BSBA from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. I have been out of a job for 2 years and my mother just lost her job today. It Is super hard to find a job here that pays you a living wage.
From dennym, Rochester,Indiana I came here for a vacation while my wife took some short term classes here. I'm afraid I am very disappointed in Charlotte. I find the attractions few, far between, and very expensive. The 'southern hospitality' is sorely lacking most places. Mostly the cost of everything from food to lodging is excessive. Growing pains? Maybe. I don't have anything against Charlotte, but I'm not interested in returning any time soon either.
From jack whitney There is really no point in attacking or defending a city; it all depends on what one's life situation is. However, an opinion–even though it's subjective–is entitled by all. I lived in Charlotte for five years. One thing that immediately got on my nerves was the "your not from here, are you" attitude on the part of many of the native born locals. Or, worse, yet the "If you don't like it here Yankee, get out"! In other words, they haven't gotten over the Civil War yet. I kept searching for a distinct Charlotte character, but in the end found none. Property crime is very high. Charlotte is an illegal alien "sanctuary" city. Most of the construction is being done by illegals. Charlotte is in a drought zone so no matter how much one spends on the lawn it will burn up in July and August despite irrigation because the city enforces water rationing. The high schools are over-crowded and are in decline. They were OK when I first moved there. And, I think that most of the teachers try their best. Having said all of that I have to say that Charlotte is basically a nice city: it's clean, it has lots of trees and bushes and city services are very good. Finally, it's like everywhere else: you will find good and bad people. I will include the site below for your interest.
http://www.taraservatius.com/2007/07/24/charlotte-more-dangerous-than-la.aspx
From Anonymous I was born and raised in Charlotte. I'm educated, I'm not a redneck and no I do not work for a bank. To all the people that say that Charlotte is boring, What exactly are you looking to do? There are actually a lot of things to do in my city, I just think you guys aren't looking in all the right places. I only knew of one "Nascar themed bar" and that closed down a couple years ago. I myself don't follow the "sport" so to make assumptions that we all watch stock cars go round and round is asinine. With all big cities you're going to run the risk of crime. If you don't like it or don't want to risk it, move to Mayberry. I love my city and for all you people with the negative comments can either stay the hell out or go the hell back home.
Go Panthers!
From Ms. Nelson, New Jersey Hello everyone, I love Charlotte. I am a single mom of 2 young ladies who loves Charlotte and what it has to offer them. Just like any other place you live you will have your good and bad. Its not for everyone but for those it might be for we need to come together and make what ever changes we can. Its not gonna happen over night but it can happen. Its quiet, clean, clean, clean, educational, hospitable, growing. We have to grow with it. Some of us dont like change but thats what makes the world go round. when you have sooooo many people move into such a small state, that continues to grow, the government and community orangizations along with everything else must grow with it. I have not moved to Charlotte yet, because the job market is not that great unless your in finance. I am a multitasker with many branches so when i do find the right job and get the go ahead. I will relocate for the benefit of my children and their education. I just want to say thank you to all that are responsible for making Charlotte the wonderful, most comfortable place to raise your family or start your family.
Love Ms. Nelson
From night hawk Charlotte is a wonderfull place to live and has been this way for many years. The only people that would complain about Charlotte want a larger arts scene and more diversity when people that live here like it just the way it is. The influx of yankees and art types along with a failing gov't full of democrats who are in their position because the banks funded their campaigns are turning Charlotte into a crime ridden, unfriendly city with bad schools and higher taxes. Leave Charlotte the way it is and if you don't like the Arts scene or the southern hospitality stay where you are. US airways has flights going back to New York every day……….
From Anonymous It is a great city, but it is very boring. There is nothing to do. There needs to be more family activities in Charlotte and not 3-4 hrs away.
From Mark Richmond Virginia I lived in Charlotte for 3 years and it was a fair city but it was lacking in culture and identity. I felt that the small art districts that they recently created was a weak attempt to try and buy Charlotte's Arts and culture community. I think the engineers of this city have failed in the sprawl that it created and lack of foreseeing that not sticking to a traditional grid pattern for city has cause locals to have longer commute time to work and waste of fuel and money. The Bus system was efficient and is well maped out. Charlotte is not very bike friendly, with few bike lanes and not enough miles of them.
Charlotte is a great city for a banker and business person. It is near the mountains and ocean, and is also fairly safe for a family. I feel this city is for people that have money and can afford to spend it.
From Kelly, Medina, Oh I loved Charlotte when I first moved there as well. I left Charlotte a year and half ago. THERE ARE NO JOBS! There are so many people moving there and not enough jobs, they just keep building houses. NO JOBS!
From Jennifer, Charlotte, NC I recently moved to Charlotte from Baltimore, MD. This city is TERRIFIC! Though I am a native New Yorker witih southern roots, I find this town not southern at all. The culture, industries and educational forums varify which offer to newcomers diversity. My goal is to remain in Charlotte permanently and start a family.
From Nikki, Charlotte, NC I have lived in Charlotte since 2006, and I love it. As with every city, it has it's pros and cons, but overall, I think it's a great place to live. I would agree with everyone's assessment that it is not very diverse, but give it time. This city only started flourishing a few years ago. It is going to take a time for the dynamic to change. I do hate the underlying racism that exists here, even 40 years after the Civil Rights Movement. When I first moved here, I lived in Ballantyne, a lily-white, upper middle class area of the city. I am a young, upper middle class African American woman, and when I would frequent the shops in the Ballantyne area, I was treated as if I should have been mopping the floors instead of shopping there. The racism and lack of diversity is horrible, but I will be optmistic, and hope that it will change in time.
From Brian, Charlotte, NC I have lived here in charlotte since 2003 and it has changed in the last 5 years. The crime rose tremendously its almost scary, imma a black guy and was hoping to move here and start my own bar here which is alot of room for more entertainment because charlotte after 10 pm is a ghost town it seems that all people do here is work, go home, work, go home and on weekends they go to the same club or bar over and over again or most people get the heck out and travel for the weekend which is smart becuase there is nothing to do here maybe if you are rich or make 50k plus charlotte can be pretty fun but people who make under 50k and you have to drive every where here ok they have the light rail which is a start but its gonna be a very long time before they have the light rail throughout the entire city. If you like to have fun and go out to different places every weekend this is not the city for you but if you have a family and kids and enjoy doing nothing then its perfect. The only good thing i can say about charlotte is that i found my fiance here ( she told me to say that ) but she is from Queens,NY and we are moving to Florida Soon…Im outta here!!!
From Scott, Charlotte NC I'm a 2 time NYC banker transplant (the kind they hate here). And I rate Charlotte overall as "nice" and "good" (but not great, inspiring, awesome nor particularly interesting) place to live and while we're at it, probably warrants throwing in a concerning level of stereotypical southern dysfunction (i.e. many still refer to the Civil War as the War of Northern Agression and anyone not from here must either by some sort of suspicious foreigner or a Yankee).
Pros – housing is available and in some places arguably still "affordable". Commute time and traffic are great. It's also quiet (if you like that sort of thing). The single track mountain biking is fantastic. Whitewater is also available. The weather is good and cycling is popular. Significant and ripe opportunities for small businesses.
Cons – no vibe – whatsoever. Diversity also seems to be limited as is the "singles scene" (unless your idea of a night out on the town is getting drunk with a bunch of barely 20 year old hicks in NASCAR themed bars). But seriously the singles scene for the truly metropolitan educated traveling professional remains a major challenge and many have left this city because of that. The "Arts scene" to put it optimistically is still s-l-o-w-l-y and cautiously and conservatively "emerging" with a couple of minor hopeful exceptions (such as the McColl Center for Contemporary Art which is great). Sarcastically, the arts scene really consists of 6 people (who aren't really artists at all but think it would be cool if they were one). The quote unquote "museum" (the Mint) is lame and out of date and touch unless you like continual and perpetual exhibitions of tea pots – - seriously – that's literally most of the exhibits they put on! though in fairness the museum is slowly trying to improve itself which is encouraging. The Police department still doesn't know how to distinguish between a law abiding taxpayer and a drug dealing gang member which could partially explain the crime problem and this unfortunately is a legitimate and scary problem (refer below to the high ignorant red neck factor). They are very good at pulling you over for no reason – but have trouble filling out actual crime reports which I think is an intentional attempt to make the crime stats look better than they are – but then that would make me a conspiracy theorist right? Anyway, another con is the ignorant red neck and racist factor which is still embarassingly and disappointingly very high. There also seems to be a significant domestic dysfuntion factor I think because of a lack of inspiring after work outlets – of course this being completely subjective on my part. Schools seem to be pretty sad, but are improving (or allegedly trying to). City hall is run by um, not particularly inspired or progressive thinking individuals – but then again neither is Washington. However, in fairness the stadium, arena and new train are all encouraging developments. So, despite the cons, it is the perfect place for you if you are a self important yuppie mommy trophy wife – into yoga for all the wrong reasons – wanna be driving around in an oversized gas guzzling import SUV with designer sunglasses an oversized attitude and lattte with McMansion hopes and aspirations – just find yourself a bored senseless workaholic uptight materialistic stressed out burned out jaded banker (like me) the town is full of us! Welcome to Banktown, USA.
From JOHNNY RELOCATE TO CHARLOTTE IF YOU LOVE HIGH TAXES, GANGS MADE UP OF ILLEGALS MEXICANS, A GOVERNMENT THAT HAS NEVER SEEN A PUBLIC PROJECT IT WOULD NOT FINANCE, AND A TOWN FULL OF YANKEE'S THAT ARE SO HAPPY TO LIVE SOMEWHERE THERE ARE STILL SOTHERNERS THAT HAVE SOME MANNERS, THEY THINK THEY HAVE DIED AND GONE TO HEAVEN!
From Tiffany, Charlotte, NC From Tiffany, Charlotte, NC
I absolutely love living in uptown Charlotte! I've lived in the Charlotte area for almost 15 years, being a New York transplant. I truely love this city and I have travelled the world. Charlotte is one of the cleanest and friendliest cities I have been to. It rivals Toronto and Barcelona for it's cleanliness and is definitely up-and-coming in the art world. The Blumenthal Performing Arts Center brings in almost every major Broadway performance, making us very culturally adept. There is a new bar or resturant opening just about every month in center city, not to mention Ballantyne and South Charlotte's propensity for growth. I went to school at UNC-Chapel Hill so I have lived in the Research Triangle and it doesn't remotely compare to Charlotte. If you haven't been to Charlotte in the last year, then don't make comparisons because the face of Charlotte get better and better every year. The addition of the light rail makes our uptown area more accessible and more in keeping with a growing city. The addition of an uptown baseball stadium and the NASCAR Hall of Fame, in the next 5 years, will keep our city growing and our uptown attractions more culturally attractive. Remember, Charlotte beat out several other prominent cities to house the NASCAR Hall of Fame, which will draw huge numbers of fans to our city, bringing in massive revenue. So if you think Charlotte is going to be suffering due to job loss in the financial industry, remember that there's more to Charlotte than just banking. Come visit and we'll show you a great time!
From Christa, Charlotte, NC Charlotte has a great potential for it's oppertunities, living, entertainment, and job oppertunities. It's growing leaps and bounds everyday and it's always good to get in on the "ground floor". After reading all the comments from other people, good and bad. . I have come to one conclusion: It's all about what you like AND what you can expect or deal with. Me and my fiance have done very well as self-employed individuals, and employed from other companies at the same time. We have found a wonderful place to live, great friends, and have many options for any kind of entertainment you might want. If it gets to expensive to live, you can move 2 streets down. If you think crime is too high, start a neighborhood watch (increase the value your housing development, ect.) If you don't like living around a lake, mountains, or a very short drive to the beach. . .try another area of the country. All I can say is, there is too many positives to this newly reformated city. . . see how far you can flourish!
From Sharyn Sharer, Charlotte, NC I moved here last year from Lexington, Ky to be a teacher with CMS. I love Charlotte. It is an alive, vibrant and diverse community.
From Jo, Charlotte, NC My husband and I have been in Charlotte for three years. I was transferred here with my job (not at BofA or Wachovia) and he followed me here and started a real estate sales company. As a comment below states, Charlotte has a tendency to be "clikish", however, my husband has managed to break into the real estate market by creating his own niche. We have met various groups of people to socialize with, so I think the "clikish" sterotype has declined and the cultural opportunities have increased as the city continues to grow. The crime is high and there is definitely traffic, but both seem minimal here compared to the Buckhead area of Atlanta where we lived for two years before moving here. There are more and more places opening and happenings in different areas of town, not just Uptown, but in nearby neighborhoods of Noda, Dilworth, Plaza Midwood and South End. Overall, out of the several years I spent in Knoxville, Dallas, and Atlanta, I like Charlotte the best.
From Guido Meyers My parents lived in Charlotte for 10 years. Visited them every year. Never spent my time better than here. Charlotte is a great place to live – maybe the best.
People in Charlotte are friendly and helpful – never saw that before.
From Bartosz, NC Charlotte has no character, have visited couple other cities in the south and looks more intersting like Atlanta, Orlando. Came from Europe three years ago to school in NC..
"queen city" is very green and clean,wish is on the coast of state.. thought would be more fun.
From Bob, Charlotte, NC Charlotte dominates Raleigh. NC State alum are trash. Go Heels.
From Larry, Panama City, Florida Charlotte is obviously a city that people love to hate. It wasn't supposed to grow into such a large metropolitan area. Eleven percent of the population speak another language as their native tongue. Charlotte is the number two city choice of New Yorkers. New York City is their number one. Charlotte has professional sports team, whitewater rafting, restraunts of every ethnicity, great prices on homes and condos. Downtown is full of entertainment and getting lots better month by month. It would honestly take an idiot to say that Charlotte has no culture. People have every right to hate this "surprise" city but no matter, 50,000 people move to the metro area every year. Got to be something right.
From Dave T in Charlotte I'm a Charlotte native who has lived in big cities all over the country-Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. I love all those cities but I returned to Charlotte and think it is a great place to live. And I would hate to live in Raleigh-what an ugly, scrubby little place, sharing an identity with 3 other towns. The only people who prefer it are those who are from eastern NC and have never lived anywhere else (there are a lot of those in Raleigh.) Charlotte has 9 F500 companies to Raleigh's 1, more than a half-million more people, a light rail system (Raleigh again has none) beautiful in-town neighborhoods that compare favorably to those in the biggest cities (Raleigh's in-town neighborhoods are dull and small-town-like), an arena in the center city on the light rail line (Raleigh's is in the burbs and again, no light rail nor any hope of one any time soon.) Really, if it weren't for the triangle unbiversities (Raleigh has the worst of the 3) no one would even know of it.
From Anonymous Charlotte=Boring. If you enjoy doing nothing but getting dressed up and going to the mall, this is the place for you.
From Michael Bloomberg, San Diego, California I lived in Charlotte for six months in 2002 being a contractor to Bank of America. I lived in a nice complex. However, I got mugged right outside the complex!!
There is little economic diversity in Charlotte. Once, my contract with Bank of America ran out, there were no opportunities. Either BAC or Wachovia Bank are your choices.
I would agree that there is little culture there. It is a boring place. However, I did enjoy the minor league baseball games in Charlotte and Kanopolis.
From Marcia Coman Just thought you might find this funny. It's all about the data. In the city council meeting last night, they mentioned the Forbes article because property crime is skyrocketing. Everyone knows someone who had their door kicked in where last year this time, no one talked about crime. Forbes has also listed it as one of the worst cities to live for singles until it kicked us off the list last year. I would have agreed with your assessment last year, but not this year.
No. 9
Charlotte, N.C.
Rank
Commute times 96
Income tax rates 107
Superfund sites 97
Unemployment 97
Violent crimes 140
Weather 88
Misery Measure 625
Charlotte ranked in the bottom 50% of all six categories that we examined. Its worst showing was in violent crimes (838 crimes per 100,000 residents). As home to banking giants Bank of America and Wachovia, Charlotte could see an uptick in unemployment, thanks to the problems at those banks.
Ranks are based on the 150 largest metro areas.
http://www.forbes.com/2008/01/29/detroit-stockton-flint-biz-cz_kb_0130miserable.html
The biggest surprise on our list is Charlotte, N.C., which is ranked ninth. Charlotte has undergone tremendous economic growth the past decade, while the population has soared 32%. But the current picture isn't as bright. Employment growth has not kept up with population growth, meaning unemployment rates are up more than 50% compared with 10 years ago. Charlotte scored in the bottom half of all six categories we examined. It scored the worst on violent crime, ranking 140th.
From -Mena Charlotte,NC I moved to Charlotte 6 months ago from Houston, Texas. My husband also relocated, from Washington DC. I must say, I'm slightly disappointed at this city. The crime rate amazes me, to be such a small city. The rate is higher in Charlotte then it is in Houston, and there are 2 million less people here. I don't think this city is very diverse either. Although there are multiple races residing here, they seem to be very separated. I come from a major city that is extremely diverse and inter-racial neighborhoods, small businesses, schools, churches, and relationships are open and accepted. I'm not finding that here. In fact, my very own children (who are bi-racial) have had problems adjusting to the schools in this city. On the other hand, there are many low-income, high-risk people here that need help, and aren't being helped. My husband and I have been talking about what we could do to help those who seem left out, to flourish. For those who have relocated here with middle to upper class status are doing just fine, those who have been here most or all of their lives or those who relocated with little to nothing, hoping to start a better life are being over looked. I think Charlotte can do better. There are more people moving here then the city can keep up with, therefore people are falling through the cracks.
From AB, Anchorage AK I don't care for any part of North Carolina and i have a house there. The whole state is over-rated. Furthermore, for a "republican" state, it has high taxes, high cost of living, but not the high level of social services of other high tax states such as CT. The place is run by lawyers, it's one of the few states in the country where the law requires you to have an attorney when you buy or sell real estate.
From Mike, Raleigh, NC Charlotte is not that great a place to live. I live in Raleigh, which is a far better city. If you look at all the #1 lists and talk to anyone who has spent any time in either place, Raleigh and the Triangle has a much better quality of life. And much to Charlotte's dismay, we are not the least bit jealous of your town. Charlotte has always had an inferiority complex when it comes to Raleigh.
From Todd, Charlotte NC Before moving to Charlotte I lived in the prosperous city of Chicago and was eager to get away from the over-crowding and hour-long commutes to and from the city. Charlotte was the perfect alternative as it still offers a great city but with out the congestion. The uptown area of Charlotte is growing but still has pleanty of room and need for aspiring entrepreneurs who want to serve a very clean and friendly city – just don't come all at once.
From Terry McDonald Charlotte NC Absolutely a great town to do business in- a business friendly city in a pro-business state. The climate is superb- the people from just about everywhere, and the city is clean and working.Even the politics are good too. Voters recently re-approved a light rail committment- passed it 2 to 1, and very important school bonds passed as well. See more at CharlotteCommunitiesOnline
From Vikki, Chapel Hill, NC Having lived in NC for the last ten years (mostly around the Triangle, but with frequent visits to Charlotte), I have to agree with Bill H's comment below about Charlotte being like "dating a pretty girl without much personality". Only I would have been a little more blunt. Charlotte has lots to love on paper, and some very nice areas. But culture? No. Diversity? Little. Small businesses? Can't see 'em for the big chain retail stores and restaurants.
From Kevin M, Charlotte, NC I was born and raised in Charlotte and currently live there. I have been all over the U.S. and much of the world. Charlotte has changed dramatically over the years and native Charlotteans are a minority in their own city. This presents some ups and downs. Diversity is always good, but the area can't keep up with the growth because of the political shenanigans that have always taken place in NC's jealous state capital city of Raleigh. The collective political power of NC rests in the rural eastern part of the state due to that area containing the majority number of the state's counties. It looks like the best chance for Charlotte getting the money it needs to put enough judges on the bench, hire enough DA's to try habitual offenders, repair damaged roads, build badly needed new roads, and complete delayed road projects, is for a hurricane or two to create beach-front property up to I-95.
From Dan, San Diego, CA I lived in Charlotte from 2003-2006 had to move out due to a transfer. I finally foun a way to get transferred back here this May. I couldn't be happier. I like the place. Bounced from KC, Orlando, and SoCal. Charlotte was just a consistently pleasant place. I like the northern areas. More spread out and new but obviously pricier.
From Andy, Charlotte NC Great City.
The only problem with Charlotte is that the state of NC neglects the city on every occasion…road funding, poorly funded judicial system, & UNCC gets less than what it deserves from the state. The state of NC has to be one of the worst run states in the country.
In spite of this, Charlotte is a great city. Traffic, although not great, is not bad compared with other major metro areas, my commute is a consistent 20 minutes each day. And the city is investing in transit projects such as light rail to help with traffic and so that the citizens will have a choice when gas prices keep rising.
The tree lined neighborhoods are great in Charlotte, Myers Park, Dilworth, SouthPark and others are very nice places to live. Although some are pricey, there is an abundance of affordable housing in and around the city.
Charlotte has a great workforce. There is an energetic young workforce in Charlotte that is creative and motivated.
Overall, it is a terrific place to live.
From Bill H., Charlotte, NC I've lived in Charlotte since '97. It's a growing, very pleasant city with a "can-do" attitude. While a good place to live and raise a family the analogy I often use to describe Charlotte to outsiders is that it is "like dating a pretty girl without much personality".
From Clayton, Charlotte, NC Charlotte is a fantastic city and I agree with everything thaty ou said about it except there were some big inaccuracies. Especially population. Ur population number is from teh 2000 census, not a good way to represent a city. According to the 2006 Census population was over 630 thousand and that was two years ago it should be closer to 650 by now.
From John Traffic very bad mornings & evenings.Population explosion not planned for.Public schools struggling.Crime not being prosecuted.Government spends millions on frills, not much on real issues.
From Paul Robertson, Pittsburgh, PA Charlotte is the most soul-less, money-grubbing city I've even had the unfortunate experience of living in. Mainstream upper middle class 9-to-5ers whose main goal in life is a 5-bedroom on an acre of land and a bigger SUV than their neighbors will love this place.
On the other hand, the creativity got sucked out of the air years back. The only people who can afford arts events are those who care more to be seen at the event than about the actual art. Anything progressive is viewed as ominous and suspicious. And if you don't attend a big shiny new church, prepare to be ostracized.
This would be an excellent destination for Bush administration politicos when they retire from Washington next year.
From Phil, Charlotte NC Great climate with all four seasons. Great location within North Carolina. Close to the BEAUTIFUL Appalachian mountains, AND to the NC and SC beaches.
I am a young professional (in the banking industry) and enjoy living around so many young educated people as well as families. Very exciting place for everyone around.
"Uptown" Charlotte (which is downtown) is very very clean, and I always feel safe walking during the day and when hitting the town at night. Tons of great bars and restaurants–a great market for non-chain places!
I lived in Charlotte from 1999-2003, moved away, and have been back for 8 months now. I couldn't be happier!
From Ashley, Charlotte NC I love Charlotte! I moved here to attend UNC-Charlotte and fell in love with the city! It's big enough to have everything you could want or need, but small enough that you can still see the southern hospitality!
From bliss, charlotte NC We moved to Charlotte 2 and 1/2 years ago. The housing market is still pretty good but some neighborhoods have high rates of foreclosure. The crime rate has increased since we moved here, probably due to a rapidly growing population. The public school system is struggling, also due to a rapidly growing population. Rush hour traffic can be bad, same reason as above. Thankfully, I work from home and my husband's job is only 15 minutes away. Our neighborhood (University area) is a great place to live. Diverse neighbors, trails for walking, a large number of restaurants and several supermarkets to choose from, a fantastic library, and a new high school. There are still a lot of farm areas within a 10-15 minute drive of us, something we love. In fact, there are cows living in a small pasture not 5 minutes from us, that faces a well-traveled city road. Over all, I think the local government needs to catch up to the rest of the world. As the population increases, the troubles will only get worse if the government doesn't effectively address the issues that are going on now.
From Tony Crumbley Charlotte NC A fantastic place to be. Housing prices have not spiked still run 80% of nations avg.They are bucking the trend and increasing inspite of national trend of decline.
From TOM, CHARLOTTE, NC SEEMS EVER INCREASING ALIEN POPULATION. CITY GOVERNMENT HAS SOME MISPLACED PRIORTIES, OVERALL GOOD PLACE TO LIVE. HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE 1965.BTW,SEEMS VERY CLICKISH!
From scowley Have you found the town supportive of local businesses?
Read through the posts if you are thinking of moving from "Up North" to Charlotte – you are, and always will be, a Yankee. You will always be made to feel as if you are an outsider. And please note – if you think summer in NY is hot, wait till you spend one in Charlotte. Lastly, if you don't like bugs that look like they've come from the Amazon, steer clear. We moved to Charlotte from NY, and then moved out as quickly as possible.